In the middle of a Saga

[GTHDREAMER]

Hello at Cruiser Forum.
I am hopeful of sailing from West Africa to America in a ketch once abandoned in a mangrove creek.

[Crimea Cruiser]

Welcome to CF! Tell us about your find and what has been done to prepare for your adventure? Where is departure from?

[Cheechako]

welcome! you can bring it to America and abandon it in a mangrove swamp here! ha ha

[atoll]

not for the feint hearted!
been there done that!

which republic of bananadom?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by atoll

not for the feint hearted!
been there done that!

which republic of bananadom?

Those pic's are 6yrs old.. should have 2013 popping up any minute...

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here and I hope you share more information about your adventure.
kind regards,

[GTHDREAMER]

thanks for the welcome.
saga is the word I used and saga it is.
nobody in their right mind who knew Africa before buying would buy anything other than breakfast there, they certainly would not entertain having any work done there.
The mind set of the country is to accept any job, the less able they are to do it the better, as the more jobs they will make for their 'brother'.
Service an engine?
'I have 40 years marine engineer experience Sir , was the chief engineer for the the National Peanut Company and then for the Port Authority; I know these Volvo Pent engines very well.' Taken in with that and the excellent reports from ex pats living in West Africa I gave him the job.
On the shakedown run after the service the gearbox seized.
He insisted there must have been something wrong with the inside of the engine.
In fact as I now know these engines have always had a separate gearbox oil system.
I am now looking to take an outboard engine with me to maneuver in close quarters and rely on the sails to make the voyage.
Having bought a 32 ft yacht with a 38 hp working volvo penta that is not quite what I intended.